The leaders also discussed the agenda for the upcoming extraordinary OIC meeting on Friday in Istanbul on the climbing tension in Palestine and Washington's relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

00:00 dk15 Mayıs 2018Yeni Şafak

Israel carried out ‘genocide’ and is a ‘terror state,’ says Erdoğan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the actions of the Israeli forces a "genocide" and Israel a "terror state" after Israeli troops shot dead dozens of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border as the United States opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. In the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since 2014, Palestinian Health Ministry officials said 59 protesters were killed and 2,700 injured either by live gunfire, tear gas or other means.

Erdoğan said the international community should speak out for Palestinians' suffering and called for a firm and common stance by the OIC.

Later on Wednesday, Erdoğan also discussed the latest developments in Palestine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Monday’s demonstration had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary -- an event Palestinians refer to as “The Catastrophe” -- and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem, which also took place Monday.

Turkey has responded to the violence by asking the Israeli ambassador to leave the country, while also recalling its ambassadors to the U.S. and Israel “for consultations”.

Thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Gaza Strip’s eastern border Monday to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest the relocation of the U.S. embassy.

Hamas extols Turkey’s swift response to Gaza massacre

Hamas on Tuesday expressed its appreciation for Turkey’s rapid response to Monday’s massacre committed by Israeli troops against peaceful Palestinian protesters on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border.Speaking to Anadolu Agency during a visit to Mauritania, where he will take part in a pro-Palestine conference, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the support of the Turkish government and people for the Palestinian cause.“The Turkish people hit the streets immediately after Monday’s massacre; this was very encouraging,” he said.According to Abu Zuhri, Turkey’s role is of especial importance as the country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.Israel’s ambassador to Ankara left Turkey on Wednesday -- at the latter’s request -- shortly after the deadly violence on the Gaza-Israel border.Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag announced Monday that the Turkish government had declared three days of mourning in solidarity with Gaza’s martyrs.“We appreciate the Turkish role and hope to strengthen this interaction with the provision of needed humanitarian relief to Gaza, which continues to remain under siege,” Abu Zuhri said.He also called for opening hospitals to help treat Gaza’s injured, urging Turkish organizations to provide support to struggling Gazan families.On Monday, at least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred -- and hundreds more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the border.Monday’s demonstration had coincided with Israel’s 70th anniversary -- an event Palestinians refer to as “The Catastrophe” -- and the relocation of Washington’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem, which also took place Monday.Since the Gaza rallies began on Mar. 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli army gunfire.Last week, the Israeli government said the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law did not apply.

Turkish minister condemns Israel over agro-trade freeze

The Turkish Food, Agriculture, and Livestock minister on Wednesday slammed his Israeli counterpart after he announced that Israel had frozen agricultural product imports from Turkey.Minister Ahmet Esref Fakibaba, responding to his Israeli counterpart Uri Ariel’s twitter post, told Anadolu Agency that Israel’s move would have no effect on the Turkish economy.“Our country, whose position as an agricultural exporter is well-established and which has agricultural trade relations with numerous countries, cannot be conceivably afraid of import freezes by such a small country as Israel,” he said, explaining that Israel had a very small share in the Turkish agricultural trade, constituting less than two percent of it.Fakibaba said Turkey’s agriculture had a dynamic structure that no longer faced any difficulties in finding alternative markets in the world.“Therefore, it should be known that a small state’s attempts at subduing Turkey through such threats is a futile effort. Israel should know Turkey cannot be deterred by such threats.”The minister also stressed that no economic concern was bigger than Turkey’s and Turkish people’s love for Quds (Jerusalem) and their enthusiasm to defend the right cause of Palestinians.“It is completely unacceptable for the minister of a state -- that has adopted the policy of persecuting the Palestinian people and that is so unfeeling as to go to every length in this direction -- to attempt to threaten Turkey over agriculture.”At least 62 Palestinians were martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli forces along the Gaza border Monday.Thousands of Palestinians gathered on the Gaza Strip’s eastern border Monday to take part in mass rallies to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Israel's establishment -- an event Palestinians refer to as the "Nakba" or "the Catastrophe" and to protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Since the border rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.Last week, the Israeli government said the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law did not apply.

International community urged to slam Gaza killings

Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman has urged the international community to strongly react against Israel following the killing of more than 60 Gazans in the besieged Gaza Strip.Speaking at the 25th anniversary of Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC): Summit of the Speakers, where Anadolu Agency is the official photo provider, Kahraman said: “International community needs to show its reaction against this massacre in the strongest term.”“The Middle East peace process needs to be revived…for the establishment of the Palestinian state and in order to stop tears of the Palestinian people.”He termed the recent Israeli killings as “inhuman” and “shameful”, adding that the day Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinians along the Gaza fence should be called “Black Monday”.He mentioned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be held in Istanbul on Friday over the latest Gaza developments.“We will follow the subject [of Gaza killings] in the light of UN and international foundations.”He also slammed U.S. President Donald Trump on the move to relocate his country’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, calling it a “big mistake”.“The biggest fault for this is on Trump,” Kahraman told reporters during a break at the summit.At least 62 Palestinians were martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli forces along the Gaza-Israel fence Monday.Thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Gaza Strip’s eastern border Monday to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israeli ambassador leaves Turkey

Eitan Naeh, Israeli ambassador in Ankara, left Turkey on Wednesday at the country’s request following indiscriminate violence and killings by Israeli soldiers along the Gaza border.Accompanied by a personal security guard and some consulate officers, Naeh left for Tel Aviv from Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport at 11.30 a.m. [0830GMT] on a Turkish Airlines charter plane.On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Naeh to tell him it would be "appropriate" for him to return to his country "for a while".Israel asks Turkish envoy in Palestine to leave countryAt least 62 Palestinian demonstrators were martyred and hundreds more injured by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border Monday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.Thousands of Palestinians had gathered on Gaza Strip’s eastern border Monday to take part in protests aimed to commemorate the Nakba anniversary and protest the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Video: Expelled Israeli envoy leaves TurkeySince the border rallies began on March 30, more than 100 Palestinian demonstrators have been martyred by cross-border Israeli gunfire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.Last week, the Israeli government said the ongoing border protests constituted a “state of war” in which international humanitarian law did not apply.Turkey tells Israel's envoy to Istanbul to return to Israel 'for some time'Turkey ‘to never accept’ Jerusalem as Israeli capital